Russian Fans Plan March Through Warsaw

WARSAW–Russian fans want to stage a march celebrating Russia’s freedom day in central Warsaw ahead of Poland’s match with Russia at the European championships on June 12, raising concerns about potential tensions with Polish fans and far-right groups.

Russian fans sent a letter to the Warsaw mayor’s office Friday to allow for an organized march that will begin two hours before the football match. The march is expected to lead from the city center to the National Stadium, where the game will take place. Russia Day, celebrated on June 12, commemorates Russia’s break from the USSR. It’s unclear how many fans would take part in the march, but several thousand have tickets to the game.

“We have received a letter from fans asking for help in organizing a march. It was not a formal application, but we will meet the fans tomorrow to discuss how we can help,” Warsaw Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz told a press conference on Friday.

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The mayor added that the fans are not technically required to ask for approval and said the meeting will be organizational in nature.

Poland’s relations with Russia, its former Soviet-era master, have always been difficult due to centuries of hostilities. But they’ve soured even more since the 2010 airplane crash that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 other officials.

Due to fears of anti-Russian demonstrations by far-right groups, heavy police guard has been setup in front of the Bristol Hotel in Warsaw, where the Russian national team is staying.

The Russian fans pushing for the march said it has no political agenda, and they want it to remain a peaceful celebration of the game itself. “We do not understand why this is so controversial. We do it every time Russia plays its games,” one of the Russian fans told TVN24 after filing the application.

Potential clashes with Poles are the main concern. Solidarni 2010, a far-right group that questions official findings by both the Polish and Russian authorities into the presidential airplane’s cras, and blames Russia for the disaster, plans to stage demonstrations in front of the Bristol Hotel throughout the tournament.

The championships will start with Poland hosting Greece in Warsaw on Friday, followed by Russia’s match against the Czech Republic in Wroclaw.

Double democrat would seem to disagree with you that people need permits to hold marches. Why would the mayor of Warsaw approve something that is not necessary? If the fans held their own march would they be arrested?

1:35 am June 10, 2012

Jan wrote:

Friday sounds too late. As Konrad says, it is impossible for the authority to organise an extra care by the next Tuesday. Why didn't they make the application months ago?

From what I remember, the application is more for logistics, so the cops can close the street and plan the security and what not. Regular, unannounced demonstration would probably be allowed, as long as its not violent and doesn't block traffic methinks

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